Suspensions not a concern for River Plate’s Marcelo Gallardo after Monterrey draw

River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo speaking to his players during the 0-0 draw with Monterrey on June 21. PHOTO: REUTERS

UPDATED Jun 22, 2025, 04:37 PM

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LOS ANGELES – River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo is confident he can still field a team capable of defeating Inter Milan in his side's final Group E game at the Club World Cup, despite losing several players due to suspension.

Gallardo saw Kevin Castano sent off in the latter stages of the 0-0 draw at the Rose Bowl with Monterrey on June 21, while yellow cards for Enzo Perez and Giuliano Galoppo mean the pair will also miss the meeting with the Italian side on June 25 in Seattle.

River Plate are one of South America’s most successful clubs, winning the Copa Libertadores on four occasions, as well as the Intercontinental Cup in 1986.

Their draw with Monterrey means the Argentinian side are level on four points with Inter Milan in Group E.

Monterrey are third in the standings, two points behind Inter and River Plate, and a win over already-eliminated Urawa Red Diamonds from Japan could see the Mexican side climb into the qualification berths for the knockout rounds.

Said River coach Marcelo Gallardo: “We have some players that we’re going to be missing. We, of course, had some yellow cards and there are several players who won’t be able to play in the next game, so we will have to see how we organise that.

“But I see the glass as half full because, if you look at the scores, every club, every team has had its problems. It was hard for Inter to win, it was hard for Monterrey too, so for our third game we’re going to go with the best we have and we’re going to be optimistic.

“Today we deserved to win. Our level was better, and for the next game we will do the same.”

Earlier on June 21, Fluminense rallied in the second half to beat Ulsan 4-2 and knock out the South Korean side.

Inter came from behind to beat Urawa, while Borussia Dortmund held off Mamelodi Sundowns to win a seven-goal thriller.

Ryoma Watanabe got an early opening goal for Urawa, who were backed by a noisy contingent of their supporters at Lumen Field in Seattle.

But captain Lautaro Martinez had got Inter’s equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Monterrey in their first match at the tournament, and he repeated the trick to level matters here with 12 minutes to go.

Valentin Carboni, the 20-year-old Argentine who had not made an appearance for Inter in more than two years, then appeared in the 92nd minute to give the Italians the victory.

“Our opponents play with their hearts and to counter that as a team we need to play with more pride, be humble and know how to suffer,” Martinez told broadcaster Dazn, after Inter were made to work for the victory.

Urawa’s coach Maciej Skorza added: “Our emotion is very bad after this game. We are out of the tournament, so now we can only fight in the last game to achieve our one and only win.”

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In Group F, Jobe Bellingham said his first goal for Dortmund was a surreal experience as the new signing from Sunderland made an immediate impact at the Club World Cup.

Bellingham scored the third goal in Dortmund’s 4-3 win over South Africa’s Sundowns at the TQL Stadium and was named Man of the Match.

“It’s a little bit surreal really when the ball hits in the net, it’s just crazy,” the 19-year-old English midfielder said.

“Everything happened so slowly but yeah I’m really pleased.”

Coach Niko Kovac said he was delighted with the form of Bellingham.

“He is among those who are the future of this club,” the Dortmund boss said of the £27 (S$46.7 million) million signing.

Dortmund’s other goals came via Felix Nmecha, Serhou Guirassy and an own goal from Khuliso Mudau. Sundowns’ scorers were Lucas Ribeiro Costa, Iqraam Rayners and Lebo Mothiba.

South Korea’s Ulsan gave Fluminense a real scare at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, leading 2-1 until the 66th minute before the Brazilians ran out 4-2 winners, eliminating the K-League champions in the process.

Fluminense lead Dortmund at the top of Group F on goal difference. Both are on four points after two matches.

Lee Jin-hyun and Um Won-sang’s first half goals were sandwiched by Jhon Arias’ shot, before a late rally from the Brazilian side produced strikes by Nonato, Juan Freytes and Keno. REUTERS, AFP

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